Pipe tamping means

ABSTRACT

A tamper in combination with a lighter mechanism is provided wherein the tamper is attached to said lighter mechanism so that said tamper is adapted to slidably move through elongated hollow guide members between a first position wherein the tamping surface portion of the tamper is contiguous to the exterior portion of said lighter mechanism and a second position wherein said tamping surface is spaced away from said lighter mechanism. Further, the tamping surface of said tamper is an enlarged area formed so as to allow a major portion of the tobacco being tamped to constantly breathe during the tamping operation.

United States Patent 11 1 Kanady 1451 Dec. 11, 1973 1 PIPE TAMPING MEANS[76] Inventor: Garland II. Kanady, 33 Hillcrest,

Ponca City, Okla.

[22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,536

[52] 11.8. C1. 131/243, 131/247 [51] Int. Cl. A24f 09/02 [58] Field ofSearch 131/243, 247, 177

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,263,690 8/1966 Buckley .1131/243 2,894,515 7/1959 Wisrner, Jr 131/243 f 3,220,420 11/1965 Genoud131/247 3,269,396 8/1966 Lamar 131/247 2,041,469 5/1936 Haas.....131/247 165,274 7/1875 Suter 131/177 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS7/1955 Great Britain 131/243 Primary ExaminerJoseph S. ReichAttorney-Glen M. Burdick [57] ABSTRACT A tamper in combination with alighter mechanism is provided wherein the tamper is attached to saidlighter mechanism so that said tamper is adapted to slidably movethrough elongated hollow guide members between a first position whereinthe tamping surface portion of the tamper is contiguous to the exteriorportion of said lighter mechanism and a second position wherein saidtamping surface is spaced away from said lighter mechanism. Further, thetamping surface of said tamper is an enlarged area formed so as to allowa major portion of the tobacco being tamped to constantly breathe duringthe tamping operation.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1 PIPE TAMPING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a pipetamping means. In one aspect the present invention relates to a pipetamping means in combination with a lighter mechanism. In another aspectthe present invention relates to a novel pipe tamping means which isattached to a lighter v mechanism in a manner so that the tampingsurface of said tamping means can be caused to slide between a firstposition wherein the tamping surface of said tamping means is contiguousto the exterior portion of said lighter mechanism and a second positionwherein said tamping surface is spaced away from said lighter mechanism.In still another aspect the present invention relates to'a pipe tampingmeans which allows a major portion of the tabacco being tamped toconstantly breathe during the tamping operation. In yet another aspectthe present invention relates to a novel tamping surface for a pipetamping means wherein the tamping surface is formed of a plurality ofbends of wire thus forming a large area which can be employed to tampthe tobacco in the pipe bowl but does not prevent air from reaching thetobacco during the tamping operation.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Many types of accessories havebeen proposed to assist a person smoking a pipe.Many of theseaccessories have proved usuful whereas many have possessed only noveltyor curiosity benefits. However, as all pipe smokers can readily attest,a tamping means is an essential accessory if one is to enjoy the smokingof a pipe. Many different types of tamping means have been proposed bythe prior art. However, most of these tamping means are separateinstruments which must be carried in the pocket of the pipe smoker or inthe tobacco pouch. In addition, one then needs to carry a lightermechanism or matches for igniting the tobacco in the pipe bowl. Thus, itis readily apparent that the efficiency, accessability and convenienceof accessoreis determine the degree of enjoyment derived from pipesmoking. In order to achieve this degree of enjoument one must carry anumber of accessories in his pockets or in a pouch toe nable him toproperly smoke the pipe and to maintain it in a lighted condition duringthe smoking period.

Further, many of the prior art tamping means have contained a tampingsurface which is a solid surface. Such a tamping means, while acting asan excellent tamper, has suffered from the disadvantage that many timesthe burning tobacco is snuffed out due to the blocking of oxygen fromthe lighted surface of the tobacco when such a tamping device is used.Thus, when employing such'a solid surface tamping one must often relightthe tobacco after each tamping process. It is highly desirable that atamping means be provided having a tamping area or surface-which willallow a substantial amount of tobacco to be in contact with air forcombustion during the tamping operation to prevent the extinguishing ofthe tire in the bowl of the pipe during such tamping operation. Inaddition, it would be very desirable if the tamping means could becombined with other accessories required for the smoking of a pipe toeliminate the number of accessory tools a "smoker must carry. However,in providing such a combination it is necessary that the accessories becompacted with no projecting surfaces while not in use and yet allow thesmoker to position the accessories in their useful position whendesired. Such new and improved I accessories for the pipe smoker areconstantly being sought especially ones which can serve amultiplepurpose and eliminate the number of accessories or tools that aperson must carry in order to enjoy the smoking of a pipe.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide an improved tamping means. Another object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved tamping means in combination with alighter mechanism. Still another object of the present invention is toprovide an improved tamping means in combination with a lighter Imechanism wherein the tamping means can readily be employed to tamp thetobacco in a pipe bowl when desired and yet at the same time which willnot protrude from the lighter mechanism when the tamping means is not inuse.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Drawings accompany and are a part ofthis disclosure. These drawings depict preferred specific embodimentsofthe tamping means of the invention, and it is to be understood that thedrawings are not to unduly limit the scope of the invention. In thedrawing:

FIG. 1 is a perpective view of a lighter mechanism having a tampingmeans of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the lighter mechanism having atamping means of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lighter mechanism having anotherembodiment of the tamping means of the present invention. 7

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view .of a second type of lightermechanism having a tamping means in accordance withthe presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of still another lighter mechanism havinganother embodiment of-the tamping means of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the tamping means of FIG. 5.

of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of another alternate strap meanssuitable for use with the lighter mechanism of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial perspective view of lighter mechanismhaving another embodiment of the tamping means in accordance with thepresent invention. I

In the following discussion and description of the invention referencewill be made to the drawings wherein the same reference numerals will beused to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. Thediscussion and description is of specific embodiments of the tampingmeans of the invention, and it is to be understood that the discussionand description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now to the drawing,and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a lighter mechanism llhaving a case means 12 for containing a fuel supply and a flameproducing igniter means and a tamping means 13. Tamping means 13 isslideably secured to a body member 16 of case means 12 by any suitablemeans such as strap means 17. As is evident from the drawing, strapmeans'17 secures tamping means 13 to said case means 12 at a position onbody member 16 so as not to interfere with the movement of cover means18 of case means 12.

Strap means 17, engageably surrounding body member 16 of case means 12,is provided with elongated hollow guide means 19 and 21 for slideablyreceiving tamping means 13. Tamping means 13 is an elongated wire memberhaving at a first end thereof a plurality of bends 14 forming anenlarged area and at a second end portion a thumb-engageable means 22.The second end portion of the elongated wire member is depicted as apair of leg members 23 and 24 which are slideably positioned withinelongated hollow guide means 19 and 21, respectively, of strap means 17.Thumb-engageable means 22 is secured to the end portion of legmember 23.As is apparent from the drawing, hollow guide means 21 is sufficientlylonger than hollow guide means 19 to allow hollow guide means 21 tocompletely house leg member 24 of tamping means 13. As can readily beseen, the plane of the enlarged area formed by bends 14 is substantiallyperpendicular to leg members 23 and 24 of said tamping means. However,it should be apparent that if one chooses a rigid enough material fromwhich tamping means 13 is constructed, only leg member 23 and thus guidemeans 19 would be required. In such a case, the configuration of legmember 23 and the internal configuration of guide means 19 would have tobe such that leg member 23 would not be free to rotate therein. Aspreviously stated, thumbengageably means 22 is affixed to the endportion ofleg member 23 and such may be either permanently affixed ordetachably affixed. By'employing the thumbengageable means 22 legmembers 23 and 24 of tamping means 13 are caused to slide through guidemeans 19 and 21 between a first position wherein said enlarged areaformed by bends 14 of tamping means 13 is contiguous to the exterior ofbody member 16 of case means 12 and a second position wherein saidenlarged area is spaced away from body member 16, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of tamping means 13 ofthe presentinvention. In this embodiment a portion of tamping means 13'. namely legmembers 23 and 24, are carried internally within the shoulder means 26of the fuel supply and flame-producing igniter of lighter mechanism 11'.Shoulder means 26 is constructed so that when the lighter mechanism 11'is assembled a cavity is created within shoulder means 26. This cavityis of sufficient size to readily carry leg members 23 and 24 of tampingmeans 13'. Leg members 23 and 24 pass through guide openings 27 and 28in shoulder means 26. Thumb-engageable means 22 protrudes throughelongated opening means 29 in the side portion of shoulder means 26,adjacent the end containing guide opening means 27 and 28, by virtue ofa rightangle bend 31 in leg member 23. Thus. the enlarged area framed bybends 14 can be slideably moved by pressure on thumb-engageable means 22between a first position wherein bends 14 are contiguous to the exteriorof body member 16 of case means 12 and a second position wherein saidenlarged area is spaced away from body member 16.

Referring now to FIG. 4 another embodiment of tamping means 13" of thepresent invention is depicted. Lighter mechanism 32 having case means 33of circular or cylindrical configuration and a fuel and flame producingigniter means (not shown) is provided with clamp means 34 engageablyencircling a major portion of the perphery of the lower end portion ofcase means 33. Elongated hollow guide means 38 and 39 are affixed to orformed as part of clamp means 34 so as to be substantially parallel toeach other and to the central axis of case means 33. Tamping means 13"provided with a pair of leg members 36 and 37 which are slideablypositioned within guide means 38 and 39. These leg membersare anextension of a first end of said tamping means which is provided with aplurality of bends 14" that form an enlarged area. The plane of theenlarged area is substantially perpendicular to leg members 36 and 37.The end portions of leg members 36 and 37 are connected tothumb-engageable means 41. Thus, by applying pressure tothumb-engageable means 41, leg members 36 and 37 are caused to slideablypass through guide means 38 and 39 thus moving the enlarged area betweena first position wherein the enlarged area formed by bends 14" iscontiguous to the exterior of case means 33 and a second positionwherein said enlarged area is spaced away from the exterior of casemeans 33.

A modification of clamp means 34 and elongated hollow guide means 38 and39 which can readily be produced for a lighter mechanism having a bodyportion of circular configuration of the type of FIG. 4 is depicted inFIG. 8. In this modification, clamp means 34' again encircles a majorportion of the periphery of the lighter mechanism 32. However, the endsof clamp means 34' are here provided with flanges 42. A plate means 43is provided, which has formed along two of its opposite edges flanges 44which are adapted to slideably engage flanges 42. Plate means 43 alsocarries one or more hollow guide means such as 38 and 39. As will beevident to those skilled in the art clamp means 34 and clamp means 43can be modified in shape and size to encircle the body portion of anylighter mechanism regardless of its size or shape.

With reference to FIG. 9 another modification of clamp means 34 andelongated hollow guide means 38 and 39 which can readily be produced fora lighter mechanism having a body portion of circular or cylindricalconfiguration is shown. In this modification clamp means 34" againencircles a major portion of the periphery of the lighter mechanism.Similar to the clamp means of FIG. 8, the ends of clamp means 34" areprovided with flanges 46 and 47. Plate means 48 has formed or attachedalong two of its opposite edges hollow guide means 49 and 51, theinterior portion of hollow guide means 49 and 51 being adapted toslideably engage flange 46 and 47, respectively, of clamp means 34".

Referring next to FIG. 5 and 6, there is shown a lighter mechanism 11having a case means 12 and tamping means 13" similar to those of FIG. 1,except that a portion of tamping means 13" is carried internally withinthe cover means 18. Leg members 23' and 24' of tamping means 13 passthrough guide opening means 52 and 53 located in one end of cover means18, and thumb-engageable means 22 protrudes through elongated openingmeans 54 in a face of cover means 18 adjacent the end containing guideopening means 52 and 53 by virtue of a right-angle bend56 in leg member24'. This embodiment can also preferably be provided with an internalbaffle means 57 as detailed in FIG. 7. Thus, the enlarged area formed bybends 14 can be slideably moved by pressure on thumbengageable means 22between a first position wherein bends 14 are contiguous to cover means18 and a second position wherein such bends are extended away from suchcover means. FIG. 6 illustrates in detail a preferred shape of tampingmeans 13" in this embodiment. Baffle means 57 depictedin FIG. 7 servesto conserve lighter fluid by providing a partition closing theinteriorof cover means 18' with respect to guide opening means 52 and 53and elongated opening means 54, while forming a cavity thereabove toallow free longitudinal movement of tamping means 13". Although tampingmeans 13 is shown as being located in the upper portion of cover means18', it is obvious that it can equally well be located in a side orbottom of lighter mechanism ll.

Turning now to FIG. still another embodiment of the tamping means of thepresent invention is depicted. In this embodiment a plate means 58 isprovided which is secured to any one of the faces of case means 12.Elongated hollow guide means 59 and 61 are affixed to, or formed as partof, plate means 58 so as to be substantially parallel to each other. Legmembers 23" and 24" tamping means 13" are slideably positioned withinguide means 59 and 61in such a manner as to position the enlarged areashown as being formed by a plurality of bends 14, which is substantiallyperpendicular to leg members 23 and 24", contiguous the adjacent face ofcase means 12. Thumb-engageable means 41 is then secured to the endportion of leg members 23" and 24". Thus, by applying pressure tothumbengageable means 4], leg members 23 and 24 are caused to passthrough guide members 59 and 61, respectively, between a first positionwherein the enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of case means 12and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from theexterior of case means 12;

While the foregoing discussion and description has been made inconnection with certain preferred specific embodiments of the pipetamping means of the present invention it is to be understood that minorvariations can be made in the pipe tamping means without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. For example, while the enlarged area of thepipe tamping means of the invention has been depicted as being formed ofa plurality of bends any other means such as a perforated plate memberhaving a sufficient amount of openings therein to allow the tobacco tobreathe could readily be employed without departing from the invention.Thus, it is to be understood that the discussion and descriptionis onlyintended to illustrate and teach those skilled in the art how topractice the invention, and such is not to unduly limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined in the claims set forth hereinafter.

I claim:

I. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuelsupply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement whichcomprises:

a. clamp means engageably encircling a major portion of the periphery ofsaid case means;

b. a pair of tube means secured to said clamp means,

the longitudinal axes of said tube means being parallel to each otherand approximately perpendicular to the plane of said clamp meansencircling said case means, and;

c. an elongated wire passing through said tube means and provided at afirst end thereof with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming anenlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicularto said wire, and provided at a second end thereof with athumb-engageable area, such that said wire is movable through said tubemeans between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguousto the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein saidenlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.

2. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuelsupply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising:

a. a first face of said case means having an elongated opening therein;

b. a second face of said case means having a guide opening therein, saidsecond face being adjacent the elongated axis of said elongated openingin said 1 first face;

c. an elongated wire passing through said guide opening and provided atits first end exterior of said case means with a plurality of bends in asingle plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends beingsubstantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at its endopposite said first end with an approximately right-angle bend throughsaid elongated opening, such that said wire is moveable through saidguide opening between a first positon wherein said enlarged area iscontiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second positionwherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior; and,

d. an internal baffle means engaged with the interior wall of said casemeans forming a cavity for free longitudinal movement of said elongatedwire while thereby forming a cavity sealing said fuel supply and flameproducer means from said guide opening and said elongated opening.

3. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuelsupply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising:

a. a shoulder means formed as an integal part of the body means of saidcase means, said shoulder means encircling the upper perihery of saidbody means and forming a cavity between said shoulder means and theupper perihery of said body means;

bl a first face of said shoulder means having an elongated openingtherein;

c. a second face of said shoulder means having a guide opening therein,said second face being adjacent the elongated axis of said elongatedopening ,in said first face; and

d. an elongated wire passing through said guide opening and provided atits first end exterior of said case means with a plurality of bends in asingle plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends beingsubstantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at its endopposite said first end with an approximately right-angle bend throughsaid elongated opening, such that said wire is moveable through saidguide opening and within said cavity between a first position whereinsaid enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means anda second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from saidexterior.

4. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuelsupply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising;

a. a plate means permanently secured to one of the faces of said casemeans;

b. a pair of hollow guide means secured to said plate means, thelongitudinal axes of said guide means being parallel to each other; and

c. an elongated wire passing through each of said guide means andprovided at a first end thereof with a plurality of bends in a singleplane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends beingsubstantially perpendicular to said wire, and said wire being providedat a second end thereof with a thumb engageable area, such that saidwire is moveable through said guide means between a first positionwherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said casemeans and a second position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous tothe exterior of said case means and a second position wherein saidenlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.

1. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement which comprises: a. clamp means engageably encircling a major portion of the periphery of said case means; b. a pair of tube means secured to said clamp means, the longitudinal axes of said tube means being parallel to each other and approximately perpendicular to the plane of said clamp means encircling said case means, and; c. an elongated wire passing through said tube means and provided at a first end thereof with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at a second end thereof with a thumb-engageable area, such that said wire is movable through said tube means between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.
 2. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising: a. a first face of said case means having an elongated opening therein; b. a second face of said case means having a guide opening therein, said second face being adjacent the elongated axis of said elongated opening in said first face; c. an elongated wire passing through said guide opening and provided at its first end exterior of said case means with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at its end opposite said first end with an approximately right-angle bend through said elongated opening, such that said wire is moveable through said guide opening between a first positon wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior; and, d. an internal baffle means engaged with the interior wall of said case means forming a cavity for free longitudinal movement of said elongated wire while thereby forming a cavity sealing said fuel supply and flame producer means from said guide opening and said elongated opening.
 3. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising: a. a shoulder means formed as an integal part of the body means of said case means, said shoulder means encircling the upper perihery of said body means and forming a cavity between said shoulder means and the upper perihery of said body means; b. a first face of said shoulder means having an elongated opening therein; c. a second face of said shoulder means having a guide opening therein, said second face being adjacent the elongated axis of said elongated opening in said first face; and d. an elongated wire passing through said guide opening and provided at its first end exterior of said case means with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at its end opposite said first end with an approximately right-angle bend through said elongated opening, such that said wire is moveable through said guide opening and within said cavity between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.
 4. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising; a. a plate means permanently secured to one of the faces of said case means; b. a pair of hollow guide means secured to said plate means, the longitudinal axes of said guide means being parallel to each other; and c. an elongated wire passing through each of said guide means and provided at a first end thereof with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and said wire being provided at a second end thereof with a thumb engageable area, such that said wire is moveable through said guide means between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior. 